Silence engulfed the entire room. Had a pin dropped, it would have been the loudest sound in the room. Apparently, Harris had kept this morsel all for himself. Yes, he was shocked by the self-satisfied look on the Whelp's face, but his brief scan of the room soon told him that none of the rest of the Cleveland gang knew about this either, except for Dana.

"Harris, I'm not some bleeding naïve bloke that can have the wool thrown over my eyes…" he began.

"After Dana was assigned to me, she kept rambling about some blonde vamp and crying out William. At first I still thought she was reliving the visions from the two slayers you had killed." Xander briefly looked guiltily over at Robin. "Sorry man," he said, nodding to Robin.

"S'alright. Spike and I have come to terms about that." Wood said, very coldly.

"Oh that's what you're calling it now. Hmmm." Spike bit back sharply. As far as he was concerned what he'd said after Wood tried to kill him in that bleeding shack of a hundred crosses held true still. He would rip out that bastard's throat if he ever tried anything again.

"Down boys. Let's not get off point, I for one am dying to know all about Xander's story," Faith inserted, tying to cut the visible tension in the room. Spike noted that while everyone from LA appeared visibly upset and ready to spring at the first sign of any action from Wood, the ones who had been back in Sunnyhell - Rona, Faith and Xander - all seemed desperately resolved to putting that sordid chapter behind them. Only Dana and Methos looked confused as to what was the problem.

With a slight nod to Xander, Spike let it go for now. Rogue was right; he wanted to hear what the Whelp thought he'd found out.

Xander began again with one of his most serious expressions. "When I became concerned that Dana was not getting her marbles back, I contacted Andrew. Or rather I should say I flew to Rome, cornered him and threatened to shred his "The Living Daylights" poster, you know how he worships Timothy Dalton. Andy was pretty quick to spill the beans about your resurrection, and what exactly Dana had done in LA. Let me tell you, I was more than a little upset to hear that you were back… thought I would never have to see your mug again. Then to discover that you were willingly working with Angel, well, I thought for sure that even if you were back in black, you weren't the same. No way the Spike we knew would be anywhere near Deadboy much less working with him."

"Yeah well, that's another tale, Ahab." He was itching to hear what Harris had to say, but he didn't want to let the whelp know he was so eager. He needed to appear calm despite every instinct in him fighting to break free and rip that 'I know something you don't' look off the bastard's face. "Harris, before we get on with this fantasy of yours, I don't s'pose it'd be too much to ask for a cuppa would it? I'm feelin' a bit peckish. You seemed to have planned our being here, did you happen across some O-neg for your dear ol' roomie?"

"Even have that disgusting Wheetabix you like to spice it up with, Blood-breath. Rona, would you mind? The Wheetabix is in the top right cabinet, first shelf on the left. Make sure to heat it for 30 seconds," Xander instructed.

Holding his hand over his non-beating heart, Spike played it brash, "I'm touched. Truly. You remembered." Inside, however, Spike couldn't believe that not only had the Whelp remembered how to prepare his blood, but also bought actual Wheetabix to add to it. But he just couldn't show that to Xander.

"Anyway, Andy told me of your connection to that amulet, how first you were sort of all ghostie, and then pop, solid again. So I began trying to find out just what the deal was about that amulet. I know, research, me… but I wasn't doing it for you. Ahn would have wanted me to do this. And as much as it kills me to say this, they need you. Somehow I stumbled across one piece of the puzzle, in one of the Council's old tomes that survived Caleb's bomb fest. Some archives had been buried - well the ones that Travers felt were too dangerous - in a crypt once owned by the Council. This book held the diary of two different Watchers; both were considered renegades in their time. The book is divided between the two; I guess the lack of paper caused the Council to put both together. Anyway the second one had only a short reference to an amulet that would bind the wearer. Apparently this Watcher had come across this some time in the early 1100s or something. There also was a mention of a wolf, a ram, and a hart." Xander paused.

Xander rose from his seat and moved toward a bookcase he'd obviously built. Drawing out a very ancient looking book that smelled weirdly of patchouli and lemon. Spike could tell that Xander held it reverently. Wanker had gone into full librarian mode. He opened the book to a much reviewed page; one that held a drawing of the amulet Buffy had given him on that last night in Sunnydale. The text appeared to be in Latin. Lost in the picture of the amulet in the book, Spike temporarily lost the trail of the conversation.

"Spike," Xander's voice regained his attention. "Do you happen to have the amulet with you? I just want to see if some markings match up according to this book. I want to see if your amulet really is this one. Don't worry I'll give it back. I know how you like to accessorize." Ahab held out his hand as if he fully expected Spike to produce the mystical amulet.

"Sorry whelp, have it safely tucked away for now. For argument's sake, wot does the renegade Watcher tell you in his story?" Rona had returned with a nice mug of blood, handing it to him, she smiled. Spike sipped some of the precious concoction, testing it, and then nodded his thanks as he continued to listen to Xander.

"He writes of how the Wolf, Ram, & Hart stole an amulet from its rightful protectors, somewhere around the time of the Crusades. The recorder of this story used lots of coded words, 'cause remember this was a time of great suspicion and religious hoo-hah. We believe we've translated this word here (pointed to some gibberish) to mean Guardian. And I'm thinking, hey Guardian, wonder if this doesn't mean the Guardians, you know, of Buffy's Scythe. Okay, so anyway, it looks as if maybe Wolfram & Hart used this one battle in the Crusades to mask their true aim - to go after the amulet. So there was some great battle. This recorder had wanted to join forces with the guardians to retrieve this amulet, but was denied by his superiors at the time. They didn't trust either WRH or the Guardians, probably because it was a bunch of women." Xander flipped a page.

"Hold up, there." Spike flinched looking at the next page. On that page where symbols similar to what he remembered Lindsey wearing both as Doyle and when fighting Angel, and also as the symbols he decorated his safe haven with. "These markings… I've seen some of these… what do these mean?"

"I'm not sure. They haven't been deciphered. These are not known in any language database I've been able to uncover. I even surreptiously sent one to Dawn, you know how she was getting so good at ancient languages. But even she was stumped. She suspected the one I sent her was related to ancient Sumerian, but she told me she would only be guessing."

Methos peeked at the markings. Spike noticed his jaw tighten, but the immortal remained tight-lipped. Perhaps he could decipher it, but given his secret, he would only be able to do so later.

"So does this medieval watcher have anything to say about these symbols?"

"He only refers to them as 'power,' 'hide,' 'secret,' and from what I could gather possibly 'invisible'. But he doesn't say much. Whatever these are worked against WRH, but when they learned of them, their mystics countered it."

"Yeah." Spike remembered Angel breaking Lindsey's spell tats and Hambone breaking through to Eve-o-rella's apartment. "So Harris, what else does your diary of a wanker say?"

"I'm getting there, Bloodbreath. It says, well some parts are still not readable, but it says that the wearer of the amulet would be at the mercy of its possessor, and the soul of the wearer would be lost in the great void. That only a great love would protect the wearer from losing his soul. Ironic huh? Buffy does have a way with souls, doesn't she?" he laughed nervously.

"You're wrong." Spike turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

*****

He stood at his tree, well not his tree, his tree had probably incinerated in the downfall of Sunnyhell. But this one would do. Yes, it would do nicely. Having lit up a cigarette, Spike pulled the toxic chemicals into his dead lungs, blowing out streams of whispery smoke.

The Whelp had it wrong. Wolfram & Hart had intended that Peaches wear that amulet. He was the original vamp with a soul that all the prophecies had been about. Evil Inc. had wanted their new CEO to wear the amulet, so that the tossers could make Angelus again and bring him out for parties. If Angel's soul was lost forever in some great nothingness, he would have to deal with the Supreme wanker again.

It didn't add up. He wore the amulet; when that amulet released him, he was like a ghost, but not, and he still had his soul. Fred had said he wasn't really like a ghost. Something about ecto-whatis was not right. Amulet didn't make him lose his soul. So that medieval watcher was wrong.

Still, if Angel had worn it? The short time he stalked the halls at the ol' Evil lawfirm, he'd learned that they usually know all the loopholes. They had to know that Angel would turn to ashes, like he did. Meaning that they knew whatever spells it took to release him. It didn't make sense otherwise. They had Peaches right where they wanted him, by the shorthairs with Connor and Queen C and in charge of their LA branch. They must have wanted to be able to control when Angel had a soul and when Angelus was let out to play. Some grand scheme for their Apocalypse.

He knew they had access to Soul Retrievers. Hell from what he heard from Red when she got back from her little jaunt to LA complete with bonus gift of Faith in tow, Percy had gotten one to perform the soul-ridding in order to get rid of the Beast.

Nah, that wasn't right. They wanted Angelus, so he could sign away the Shanshu? Was that it? No, cause in order to sign away the Shanshu, he would have to be Angel. Can only sign away what you have, and Angelus meant no soul. The renunciation would be invalid. Hey, he'd learned something from Charlie boy. To paraphrase the Great One, "the soul's the thing."*

Starting to come together a little bit, maybe. If Angelus was in the driver's seat, that took out Angel as a player in the apocalypse. No Angel equals free reign. Angelus wouldn't have cared, unless they intended to screw his own plans. Bastard was funny that way. However, if they 'controlled' him by the amulet… no, Angelus would have wormed his way out of that. He didn't like anyone telling him how to run his unlife. Perhaps an insurance policy? That had to be what those blighters were thinking.

So okay, they had not planned on him wearing the trinket. Buffy screwed their plans. Smirking as he blew out another whirl of smoke - didn't she always? Whether she meant to or not. His girl had a nasty habit of storming in and mucking things up.

A hand on his shoulder caught him by surprise, so lost in his reverie that he hadn't noticed someone else join him out by the tree.

"I know. I hate saying this. All that time I denied it. I refused to see it. I didn't want to see it. Not with you. Not after Deadboy. But I was there after Sunnydale sunk into the pit of hell. I saw how she became. She closed off, she would hide it, but she had shut down her heart. Then I went to Africa, I couldn't see anyone from Sunnydale. I had to make sense of Anya's death. I knew Andy had lied to me. She probably died in some stupid way that wasn't fitting to her at all. But I held onto what Andrew told me. I had to. Just like Buffy had to. Whatever you said to her down there, she held onto it." Xander paused.

Spike couldn't speak. He didn't turn to look at Xander as he moved beside him. He could still see the look on her face as he said; "No you don't, but thanks for saying it." His last words to her. He just wanted her to get to safety. He didn't believe her, but he loved her enough not to let her sacrifice herself in that pit. She had Dawn and her friends and all the new slayers to find. Xander's words scorched his non-beating heart.

Xander had started talking again, "…so yeah I went to Africa. With Dana I saw a way to help. She reminded me so much of Anya. She acts so young, but she's not really that young you know. Hopefully in time, she'll grow out of this stage of dressing like a teenaged anime babe. When I found that book and started learning about the amulet, I had to face some hard truths. I knew that you loved her. I thought it was some sick obsession, but now I know that you really loved her. What was harder to swallow was that for the amulet to act as it did with you, Buffy had to love you too."

"She didn't mate, you're wrong. It's wrong," he whispered, his voice barely a crack.

"No, you idiot, you're wrong. Haven't you learned anything? Didn't you hear what Lucius said in his diary? Okay let me ask you this… you still have your soul, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well that proves it right there. You would have come back all non-soul-having had her love not protected you, if you had come back at all. I'm still not clear why you came back all less than solid, and how Lindsey, was that his name, played a role in all this. It's possible that this Lindsey had learned some things during his time at Wolfram & Hart. I overheard Gunn just a bit ago tell Rona about Wesley's books being able to call up texts long destroyed or forgotten and translating them on site. Man that would be neat. And maybe he took those secrets with him. Somehow that amulet arrived at Angel's feet and you emerged from the locket. I hear you were tied to that place while you were ghostie. That tracks with the control part of the amulet. It was the property of Evil Inc. at the time. How he was able to give you your body back, I'm stumped."

"That makes two of us."

"But you missed the best part. And man, you and Buffy like to storm off, don't you?"

"What?"

"Well just the part that finally nailed the coffin of my denial about you two."

"Spit it out, whelp." Spike finally turned to look Xander in the eye.

With a stupid grin on his face, Harris said, "Ever hear of a little thing called destiny? On the next few pages in the diary, Lucius tells of a 'slayer' who goes against her calling and loves a 'champion of the night' and together they… well do you want to know the rest?"

"That could have been about the Slayer and Peaches."

"No…no…no, you're just not getting this are you? I know it took me a while to come to terms with it. But even I accept it now. I don't have to like it, but I accept it. The rest of it gives some weird details that only fit you and Buffy. It was meant for you. Except…"

Hope had started to rear its ugly head in his heart. Sure she was technically his mate, hell technically she had claimed him too, but that didn't mean she loved him. Had the Powers-that-like-to-fuck-you really wanted them together all along? "Except what?"

"Except that it says something about a mating ritual, something about blood. I say something because whatever it was had to have been so shocking that even Lucius tried to obliterate it. But I think it means that you guys have to be married or something."

Spike couldn't believe his ears. But he had to ask, "Wot happens if Buffy and I do this ritual?"

"Oh now you're interested. She becomes I think either immortal or invincible, couldn't really make out the word, and you are to be her greatest protector. Each stronger because of the other. Oh, and some great battle with evil… but, as G-man always says, there's always a battle with evil in these things."

Breaking into a huge smile, Spike clapped Xander on his shoulder. "Ahab, you and your slayer just bought yourselves a ticket to Rome."

________
* A/N: The Great One of which Spike refers is William Shakespeare. The actual full quote is "The play's the thing. Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King."- Hamlet (II, ii, 633).

~~~tbc~~~

*** "Love's Bitch, Somewhere over Atlantic Ocean***

Spike drank some heated blood while Connor and Dana munched on sandwiches that Rona had prepared for everyone before their departure. Watching Illyria he guessed she was in some sort of trance; you never really knew what the bint was doing. Spike sort of missed Charlie boy, but knew that he was getting some tender lovin' care from Roni. Tender Roni. How she had lived up to that moniker!

Gunn had wanted to join them on the mission. He didn't want to be left out. Spike knew the boy needed something to focus on to keep him going. In such a short time, his world had so drastically changed, that the mission - doing good, in this evil world - was his touchstone. In a weird way, the LA gang and the former Sunnydalers mirrored each other.

If Gunn had been in Xander's place right before the Scoobies broke into the initiative to get to Adam, Gunn would have been used as the heart, or whatever mojo Giles was spouting. Spike understood how it felt to have your world stripped away. When the government put that soddin' chip in his head, he had thought his unlife was effectively over. The thought that maybe someday he'd find those arses and force them to take out the chip, and then of course draining them dry-well that had initially been what'd kept him going. His focus had changed over time, so would Gunn's. And if a certain slayer helped him along, all the better. His respect for Rona had grown when she'd picked up on the tension and suggested that she might need Gunn's help on patrol, while her watcher was away. Then she'd made sandwiches. Chit really had grown.

While they could have used Faith's help, the group had agreed that her absence from Cleveland would be noticed. In true Faith style she'd almost brawled her way onto the mission. She owed B. What a confrontation that had been! Rogue started yelling and threatening to slay anyone who said she could not go. He'd guessed Her Highness had not had her fill of violence the day before when she'd stepped in front of the advancing slayer. With Spike safely behind her, she'd tilted her head. Apparently to Rogue that was the female version of 'bring it,' and Rogue 'brought it', only to find herself 'being served' by having been thrown clear across the room and landing on the coffee table. Only this time the table hadn't been destroyed. Well that had been a first.

Xander had whispered in response to Spike's quirked eyebrow, "Re-enforced steel overlaid with mahogany." Hell that had to hurt.

Rogue had immediately got back up, she'd looked like a stalking tigress staring down and assessing her prey. Faith had demanded, "Hey Bleachy, I know this blue number shifted back in the alley in LA. Looked like Fred. Something about a shell? What gives?"

"You failed to heed my words…"

"Well yeah, sister, there was a battle going on, and you told me about Wes. Told me you felt grief and needed to do more violence. Thought we bonded, but that don't mean I know who the hell you are."

"Thought I'd 'xplained. Old One, Goddess, as in she could crush you without much effort. Not matter that you are a slayer. If you annoy her, she tends to rid herself of the offender. Right Your Highness?" Spike had asserted.

"The half-breed is now our leader. You reek of your anger, distrust and worry. It offends my senses."

"Shiva, want to go outside? Fresh air. Oh wait, Harris what is the situation here? It is like Sunnydale? Do the natives not know of people such as a myself and Lyrie here?"

"Yes, same as Sunnydale. Why?"

With a smirk, he turned back to Illyria, "Blue, how about you shed your normal look for a more Fred sense of fun. You can take a walk, I saw some plants out the window, must have a garden out back. You can meet some friends."

"Will you bring your clipboard?" Illyria had looked serious, but underneath the impenetrable façade, Spike had sensed that for the first time Illyria had been making a joke. Even Gunn'd had a grin on his face.

"No, Blue. No clipboard this time. Explore as you wish, just don't stray too far."

Shortly after everyone had seen Illyria morph into Fred and walk out the door, the arguing over who would be staying and who would be going had evaporated. Faith would stay in Cleveland with Robin, not only keeping up appearances, but also to provide cover stories for Adam, Xander and Dana.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Xander and Methos were discussing London in whispered tones. Didn't the idiots realize, hey vampire here? Both expressed concern in regards to approaching Giles overtly, due to the expected Wolfram & Hart watchdogs that were probably posted on his person. Any move by them toward him would signal the Italian branch that Spike was now in Europe, and thereby losing the element of surprise. Other avenues?

Spike agreed silently to himself. He didn't look forward to seeing Giles anytime soon. Frankly, he'd rather pass on seeing the tosser altogether or at least until after he'd rescued Buffy and Dawn; so Giles could grimace and rub his glasses. In fact, if he saw Giles now, he wasn't sure that he wouldn't thrash him for Fred. Not that Blue didn't have her certain charm, but she wasn't Fredikins, as Lorne had called her.

Once they were on the plane, Methos had told Xander his true identity. To his credit, the Whelp had handled it well. Must have been since he was once engaged to Anya. Still for all his bravado, Spike could still sense grief hovering over him. Something he needed to address before Rome.

Spike sauntered up to join Xander and Methos in their discussion, right as Methos' cell buzzed.

"Pierson. Good. Good. Umm. Right. Excellent, good work. Stopping in London for a brief stop, but then … yes. No. Yes. See you then. What? Okay, will do. Take care old man."

Spike was practically bouncing on his toes wanting the update, obviously that had to have been Dawson. He had quickly realized that ironically Methos called Joe, 'old man'. Methos was reaching for his laptop, booting it up, and opening up his wireless network, completely ignoring both a growling vampire and an eager watcher. Barely able to contain his impatient growl, he asked, "What? News about my girls?"

Methos turned to him as if he'd forgotten he was there, his face one of quiet amusement. Before answering, he held up one finger. "Yes, that call was from Dawson. Both Buffy and Dawn are in good health and good spirits, now that he's slipped to them both who he really is and Xander's message. He also told me the name of the additional person he has watching the outside of the Rome offices, so we can coordinate with them once we arrive." Before he could be interrupted again, this time by Xander, Methos pointed to the laptop, "Joe told me of an address I needed to sign into now. Let's see what Joe has cooking. Shall we?"

As the laptop sprung to life, Methos opened up both his messenger and browser. His messenger immediately told him he had email. Clicking to retrieve the email, Methos whispered, "MacCloud."

Quickly reading the email, Methos closed it before Spike could read all of it. Something about meeting some lady on holy ground. If Methos thought he was getting in a shag before rescuing his girls, the arse was sorely mistaken.

Spike held his tongue as he watched the browser reveal a video feed. A web cam had been operated. And unlike the ones he knew about, this one you didn't have to register and pay to see. A petite, lithe, brunette, her hair cutely short walked in front of the cam, a cell phone to her ear. She paused and winked directly to the cam, mouthed, "Hey, Methos," and then blew him a kiss.

"What the bleeding hell is this? This your bird? Going to have your jollies on the net?"

"She's cute," muttered Xander. Spike rolled his eyes, the veins in his neck strained.

"No and no to both your questions. The 'bird' as you so eloquently called her is Amanda, one of us. She's no one's bird, although she and MacCloud have had a long running on-again-off-again relationship over the past 400 years. She can't see us. I'm assuming the person on the cell with her is Dawson telling her that we're signing on."

"Methos, how do you know that Amanda won't fall under Kristophe's influence? Clearly, he did something to Buffy and Dawn. What's stopping him from doing the same to her?" Harris chimed in.

"Yeah, what Ahab said?"

"Amanda is around 800 years old; she was trained by the best…dear, sweet Rebecca. She's a master criminal, thief, seductress, and actress many times over. She won't be swayed."

Before Spike could argue that he'd not really answered the question, Xander began to snicker, causing both Methos and Spike to look to see what Amanda was doing. She was belly dancing to the camera and making crazy faces. Finally she put her hands on her hips, the cell phone long gone, pointed to her eye as in 'watch', pointed to her ear as in 'hear', and winked once more. They noticed another person had entered the room, but their face was turned away from the camera. Still the voice that was carried over the net raised the hackles on the back of Spike's neck.

"The Immortal."

"Kristophe."

"That's the guy, hmmm… thought he'd be more… umm buff?" uttered Xander.

The Italian immortal was talking, "My precious Amanda, what did I do to deserve such an honor as your presence?" The oily bastard with his slightly paunched belly was wearing what appeared to be a reddish Gucci shirt half way unbuttoned with gold chains dangling from his neck.

Xander snorted, breaking into laughter, "Oh my god, what was the Buffster thinking? No way. No way. He's so ewwww."

Spike thought back to all his dealings with the Immortal, realizing that never once had he actually seen what the bastard looked like. He always had sent his flunkies. Only Dru and Darla had actually seen him, the image of their encounter made him shudder. He knew that Dru sometimes could be more than a little touched in the head, but even she wouldn't have wanted to lay one delectable finger on such a 'prize.'

The conversation in the room had continued:

"Krissy, you know that when it comes to business in Rome, I at least come to visit."

"True, bella. But it has been far too long since I've been graced with your beauty. You've cut your hair, how I miss your long, dark tresses."

"That was a long time, then, Amanda's not had long hair in decades." Methos whispered.

"But still it's so you, bella." Kristophe caressed her hand, opening it and planting a kiss on her palm. Amanda appeared to flush. Spike began to worry.

"Why thank you Krissy, would you mind getting me a glass of that fine merlot I've seen stashed. I'm so parched."

"I'll have to go retrieve the bottle. May I remind you that you may not steal any of my possessions while I'm gone."

Kristophe left the room; Amanda scanned her surroundings before moving closer to where the cam had been positioned. Picking up a book and leaning as if reading, Amanda addressed the web cam, mouthing the words, "Phone me now."

Methos had already opened his cell phone and scrolled down to the name 'Raven,' hitting send. On the cam, Xander and Spike watched as Amanda's cell chimed, Queen's 'Who Wants to Live Forever' and her answering the call.

"Just how soon are you getting your ancient ass here, Methos?" Amanda hissed into the phone. The only honeyed American sounding voice now laced with venom. Both Xander and Spike exchanged a glance. "I'm putting up with this insufferable bore for you and MacCloud, but enough is enough! No more favors. I'm done."

Methos started, "Dearest Amanda…."

"Don't you dearest Amanda me. You owe me huge. (more to herself) I can't believe I agreed to this. I hate this bastard. (then back to cam) My suffering better be worth it."

"Amanda, didn't MacCloud tell you why we needed your…erm…talents?"

Waving a hand in the air, "Some special girl or something. He screwed her over too. (calmer) I'll find out what I can. But I'm drawing the line right now; I'm not bedding his stinky carcass. "

"Hand over the cell, Methos." Spike held out his hand.

"Miss Amanda," he purred into the cell phone, "thank you for what you're doing."

"Who's this? You have an incredible voice."

"Name's Spike, and the 'special girl,' well there are two of them, Buffy and Dawn - the Slayer and my Nibblet. The Immortal helped Wolfram & Hart nab them. I owe him pain."

Amanda was nodding her head at the cam. Before she could respond, Kristophe had reentered the room.

"Whom are you talking to, my dear?"

"Just a good friend; letting them know I'm in Rome."

"Your friend Nick, perhaps? Or one of your other playthings? Really, my precious Amanda, so many men. I know you just play with them, in hopes of making me jealous. I don't know why you continue to play these games. You were meant for me, so why bother?"

Xander actually coughed, Methos snorted, and Spike gritted his teeth.

"Tsk, tsk Kristophe. Nick is my friend; we will not discuss him. Fair warning; you should keep away from him. Still a little touchy about being one of us, now. And Krissy, we were never married, so don't presume to tell me who I can or cannot have some fun with."

Kristophe laughed. "No, true marriage never came our way. How fortunate for me, it seems. I've heard how you get a 'divorce,' Amanda."

"Markham…" she gasped, "you heard about him did you? Still keeping tabs, are we?"

"Markham was a fool; marrying you just so you wouldn't testify about him taking that little child. You, of course, turned him in, rightly so. Heard he finally tracked you down for a little tête-à-tête."

Examining her nails, while faking a yawn. "Well you see, really, it was such a common thing. Like all wives I felt I had had a 'headache' long enough, 132 years, I needed some relief." She laughed.

Spike had to give the bint credit; during the entire uncomfortable exchange about whatever had happened to her husband, not once had Amanda looked toward the web cam. He observed Methos intently. Obviously, Methos had no prior knowledge of either any husband, any murder, or anything else really in the background of Amanda. For some supposed Watcher and friend of this bird, he sure was in the dark. Perhaps the 'games' that these Immortals played needed to be brought out into the open.

"Did your friend the Highlander know about him? He doesn't strike me as one who would sleep with another man's wife."

"What Duncan knows or doesn't know isn't any of your business. Besides it never was a 'real' marriage. That bastard killed that little child and made that family believe the child was still alive. He lied to me about that; fitting that the very person he married to save himself would be the one to turn him in."

"Yes, it's never wise to cross you, my dear."

"Too true. So Krissy, after all these years you still pine away only for me? Am I to seriously believe that? Please, all I've heard about since I've arrived in Rome was about the Immortal and some little slip of a girl that was your recent conquest. Where is she now, by the way? Hidden away from me, so I wouldn't know."

Both Spike & Xander physically shifted closer to the laptop waiting to hear what Guido said in response.

A small laugh came from Kristophe as he finished a sip of wine. "Ah, Buffy."

"Buffy?"

"Bella, she meant nothing to me. She's gone, no longer my concern, and she should not be yours either."

Xander's hand was shaking with rage; Spike without thinking placed his hand on Harris' shoulder. Xander looked at Spike and saw a tightly closed jaw and the bumpies. Xander began to really look forward to seeing just what Spike would do to this Immortal. Xander looked over at Methos, who appeared visibly tense and madder than hell.

Amanda coolly asked, "What do you mean she's gone? Back to America? Did you break her heart?"

Without seeming to have picked up on Amanda's sudden change in tone, Kristophe answered, "Business, Amanda. I do not discuss business, unless we are partners together in another heist. Is this what brings you to my Rome? Another trinket caught your eye?"

"Perhaps, but as you just said, I do not discuss business, either." Both laughed. Amanda suddenly checked her watch. "Is that really the time? Oh, I'm so late." Offering her hand one last time. "My apologies, Krissy, but I have to run."

Kristophe grabbed her hand, holding it longer than it appeared Amanda would have liked. She turned her attention back to him. Just as she was about to protest his holding her up, Kristophe pulled her into a slobbering kiss.

Xander cried, "Oh ye gods, take my other eye! Please!"

"Gross!" exclaimed Dana, who with Connor had snuck up front to see what everyone was watching.

Amanda craftily pulled out of his embrace, managing a smile, "Now Krissy, I really must go. I'll call you. Ciao!"

With that, Amanda practically ran from the room, leaving Kristophe staring at where she exited.

Methos clicked a button and the browser closed. "I think I've seen enough. I've got that bookmarked, so we can sneak a peek another time."

Connor spoke up, "Cool surveillance. Sure that won't get detected?"

Methos turned to Connor, "If Amanda installed it, no. She's very, very good at what she does."

"Cool. Cause that would suck if he found it."

Methos' phone started to buzz. "Yes? Amanda…" Spike could hear the verbal insults being screamed into another phone somewhere in Rome. "Yes, I saw. I'm sorry. I know you'll collect, (aside) that's what I'm afraid of. (Into the phone) Amanda, calm down. Yes, I did tell you to calm down. Why? Cause I'm on a plane with the 'posse' who will come help rid the world of that piece of slime. Yes, I know that you would have rather kissed Silas or Caspian on any other day…"

Spike snatched the phone away from Methos, "What the wanker is trying to say, pet, is that we really do 'preciate your help. He messed with my girls, luv. Bit of advice, a nice glass of Jack Daniels will wash away his taste. We'll make sure you're there to help finish the bastard off. Say a nice round of toasting his balls sounds lovely, now don't it."

Methos could hear Amanda giggling. Mouthing a 'thank you' to Spike, he proceeded to close his laptop and store it.

Spike tried to focus on what Amanda was trying to tell him, but Pinky had started pleading with Xander, "I want my hair like Manda."

"Sorry pet, you've got a fan. Hard to hear you right now. How 'bout we call you when we land? Right. Oh and Amanda, thanks again." Spike closed the phone, watching Xander shaking his no as Dana tugged on his arm. If she weren't careful, she would yank his arm out of his socket.

"Dana." Everyone stopped. Illyria stood before the group, an unreadable expression on her icy face. "Your repetitive pleas are futile. You create much noise; it assaults my ears." Tilting her head to Spike, "Why does this one not wish to be unique? Is not uniqueness a quality that humans seek to possess? Things…humans have names distinctive to their being. Why does Dana seek otherwise?"

"Blue, she just liked how Amanda wore her hair. Don't make a to-do over it. Sometimes humans, hell other demons, like to… emulate somebody they like. Just a thing that humans do."

"Yeah Lyrie, like you had to have noticed when you were in LA, how all the women wanted to look like people on TV." Connor added.

"Okay, like years ago… there was an actress on TV and everyone loved her haircut. So thousands of women went to their hairdressers and asked for that haircut. It even got it own name, 'the Rachel'. Of course, not everyone looked good in that haircut, cause hey, not everyone is Jennifer Aniston. What? Am I wrong?" Xander tried to contribute.

Dana approached Illyria. Both studied each other intently. Suddenly a huge smile broke out on Pinky's face. "I like your outfit."

"My covering, unlike your attire, may not be removed."

"Still, I like it. Even though it has brown." Dana reached out her hand, and Illyria permitted her to touch her skin-like covering. Spike was amazed when Pinky suddenly grabbed Blue's hand and started to tug her toward the back of the plane. "Come on, Blue."

He swore he saw a look of curiosity cross the Goddess' face, as Blue allowed herself to be pulled away. Perhaps, humanity was growing on the Goddess after all.

~~ Tbc~~~

A/N1: Thank you to my beta, Alwaysjbj, for her incredible work with this chapter. It is greatly appreciated.

A/N2: For those of you who are not familiar with Amanda's spin-off series, 'The Raven' some of the information revealed about her character came from that series. In episode 'Love and Death' (1.17), we learn that Amanda was forced into marrying another immortal Derrick Markham when he kidnapped a child. Markham did not want Amanda able to testify against him, but when she learned that Markham killed the child anyway, she turned him in. At the end of this episode, she takes his head and gets her final divorce. Also at the end of final episode 'Dead on Arrival' (1.22), Nick Wolfe, mortal partner and friend of Amanda is poisoned. Amanda shoots him, giving him a violent death. Nick revives and learns he's an immortal. Amanda had known he was a potential immortal. Nick walks away from Amanda, as he is unhappy that she has 'condemned' him to live forever. This episode confirmed in the Highlander mythos that one who has potential to be an immortal only becomes an immortal if they suffer a violent death. If anyone has seen the Highlander movie, "Endgame," Duncan stabbed his wife on their honeymoon, so that she could live forever and be with him. That didn't work out quite like he intended though.